Nigeria to deploy five million solar power connectors

The Nigerian Government is partnering with investors to deploy five million solar power connections in communities that are not connected to the national electricity grid.

Under its Solar Power Naija Programme, the government, through the Rural Electrification Agency, held an investor match-making event in Abuja to provide the opportunity for potential investors to pitch their financial offerings to developers.

The REA is the implementing agency of the Federal Government under the Federal Ministry of Power, tasked with the electrification of unserved and underserved communities to boost economic growth through the supply of electricity.

The agency stated in a document that “the Solar Power Naija Programme was launched as part of the Economic Sustainability Plan to achieve the roll-out of five million new solar connections in off-grid communities.”

It added, “this programme is expected to generate an additional N7bn increase in tax revenues per annum and $10m in annual import substitution. The objective of the programme is to expand energy access to 25 million individuals (five million new connections) through the provision of Solar Home Systems or connection to a mini-grid.

“It is to increase local content in the off-grid solar value chain and facilitate the growth of the local manufacturing and assembly industry and incentivise the creation of 250,000 new jobs in the energy sector.”

The event, which was organised in collaboration with the Power Africa Nigeria Power Sector Programme, provided a networking and match-making forum that brought together key investors and high-performing developers in the power sector

It is expected to generate an additional N7bn increase in tax revenues per annum and $10m in annual import substitution.

The objective of the programme is to expand energy access to 25 million individuals (five million new connections) through the provision of Solar Home Systems or connection to a mini-grid.

“It is to increase local content in the off-grid solar value chain and facilitate the growth of the local manufacturing and assembly industry and incentivise the creation of 250,000 new jobs in the energy sector.”

Punch/Hauwa Abu